Diversity Based Sustainable Management for Seagrass Ecosystem: Assessing Distribution and Diversity of Seagrass in Marine Protected Area

Sustainable management of the natural resources is influenced by understanding of basic ecological condition. This study aims to investigate distribution and diversity of seagrass ecosystem at Karimunjawa National Park using satellite imagery GEO-EYE and ecological surveys as the basis of its management. Seagrass mappings were done at 10 locations. While ecological surveys were conducted using line and square transect. Satellite image interpretation results showed that seagrass were found scattered at several islands. The highest and the lowest percent cover of seagrass ecosystems were found at Krakal Kecil (38.64%/6.55 ha) and Cilik (0.20%/0.06 Ha). Diversity of seagrass was identified from two family, namely Hydrocharitacea and Cymodocea. The percentage cover of seagrass species including the highest and lowest were Thalassia hemprichii (11.31%) and Thalassodendron ciliatum (0.01%), respectively. The highest and lowest individual density were Menjangan (280 ind/m²) and Mrican (26 ind/m²), with an average of 148 ind/m². The value of diversity index ranged from low to moderate, while the evenness index values ranged from medium to high. There is no dominance of particular species at the study site. The results suggest that there is a need to develop diversity based sustainable management for this marine resource.